Nikita Tszyu makes biggest statement yet… but one moment leaves rival\u2019s corner \u2018fuming<\/a>\u2019<\/p>\nWho’s Next? Nikita reacts to TKO win | 03:39<\/p>\n
Asked about his current training situation, Thurman added: \u201cWhile I\u2019m on vacation with family, I\u2019ll be in and out of the gym while out here and I\u2019m looking forward to seeing what is next.\u201d<\/p>\n
Already considered one of the most exciting names in Aussie boxing, \u2018The Butcher\u2019 took his undefeated tear to 12 straight on Wednesday night via a convincing \u2013 albeit controversial \u2013 win over the previously unbeaten Diaz.<\/p>\n
Fighting in front of a heaving Newcastle Entertainment Centre crowd, Tszyu produced the most complete performance of his career to eventually make Diaz retire on his stool after the six rounds.<\/p>\n
Speaking backstage with media afterwards, Rose suggested the comprehensive win ensures a host of big names are now in the mix for Tszyu moving forward — including Thurman.<\/p>\n
Another option is fellow American Tony Harrison, who Tim Tszyu famously beat, while UK promoter Eddie Hearn has talked up potential showdowns with both Kelly and boxing superstar Jaron \u2018Boots\u2019 Ennis. <\/p>\n
Importantly though, Thurman is already keen.<\/p>\n
All of which continues a wonderful narrative that, over the past two years, has now seen \u2018One Time\u2019 seemingly locked in twice for headliners against Tim Tszyu \u2013 only for things to fall over late both times.<\/p>\n
Keith Thurman says he would be willing to fight Nikita Tszyu.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
In 2024, the American was forced to withdraw injured from a Las Vegas showcase against the elder Tszyu, while in March last year stopped Brock Jarvis as part of an Australian event that everyone believed was again pitching him at Tszyu.<\/p>\n
Yet again, it never happened. <\/p>\n
Now however, it is Nikita in the mix.<\/p>\n
Understanding that while Rose is keen for his young charge to take another step up, both the promoter and Tszyu himself have stressed a world title pitch is still several fights off. <\/p>\n
In the past week alone, \u2018The Butcher\u2019 has been linked to a host of potential opportunities including Kelly, \u2018Boots\u2019 Ennis, even Sebastian Fundora \u2013 with Rose insisting his unbeaten charge can knock out every single super welterweight champion, including \u2018The Towering Inferno\u2019.<\/p>\n
Yet despite the talk of Tszyu being ready for a world title this year, especially given he went into Wednesday\u2019s fight ranked at No.6 with the IBF, the fighter himself is now urging for patience.<\/p>\n
When the topic of world titles was mentioned to Rose, Tszyu cut in saying: \u201cNo, relax.<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m only 12 fights in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorld titles \u2026 it\u2019s not even in the conversation yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I have a ranking. But there is still so much missing. So just hold the horses guys, we\u2019ll get there eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n
Controversy! Nikita hits Diaz while down | 00:42<\/p>\n
So as for what is next then?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fact that Nikita is ranked that highly he could fight for a world title,\u201d the promoter said. \u201cThat opportunity could be presented to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut right now, he\u2019s so raw.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a lot of inactivity over the past few years. I know he wants to be more active, get more fights and I agree.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many more opportunities out there for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd who we chose for him? We\u2019ll have to sit down and have a chat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t decide Nikita\u2019s next step before this. We had to see his performance tonight.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think it\u2019s the most complete performance we\u2019ve seen from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I do think he\u2019s ready for another step up again.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019ll have a chat with the team, with Nikita and see how he feels. But we\u2019d like to get him back out as soon as he wants to again \u2026 and in another opportunity to show more growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose added the super welterweight division was perfect for making great fights.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s in a great division,\u201d the promoter said of Tszyu. \u201cAnd there are definitely [big fights] in his future. There are names we\u2019ve earmarked for his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Nikita Tszyu is in the best division in boxing when it comes to names and opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are some fun names there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf said it before, the guys who aren\u2019t champions in this division are some of the bigger drawcards and more exciting fights you can have.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a really cool bucket list ahead of him in this 154 pound division.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"American superstar Keith Thurman has sensationally declared himself open to fighting Nikita Tszyu next up, saying: \u201cIf No…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":654380,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[2095,43757,1724,64,63,689,2809,802,221918,91240,30027,316504,316508,7701,9915,316506,110098,316509,309647,316507,14416,11464,2623,47654,2627,673,10668,2782,11876,2041,2067,677,61495,121450,6264,2784,12540,283039,85,11872,28630,316505,2614,3722,2836,316503,2798],"class_list":["post-654379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-america","tag-american-superstar","tag-asia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-ben-damon","tag-boxing","tag-boxing-event","tag-boxing-superstar","tag-conor-benn","tag-contract-reveal","tag-cool-bucket-list","tag-daniel-dubois","tag-eddie-hearn","tag-entertaining-boxing-fans","tag-fabio-wardley","tag-fight-highlights","tag-heavyweights-clash","tag-horses-guys","tag-josh-kelley","tag-keith-thurman","tag-las-vegas","tag-nepal","tag-nevada","tag-new-south-wales","tag-newcastle","tag-nick-walshaw","tag-nikita-tszyu","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-oceania","tag-poster-boy","tag-pound-division","tag-price-tag","tag-sebastian-fundora","tag-southern-asia","tag-spaniard-oscar-diaz","tag-sports","tag-super-welterweight-division","tag-title-fights","tag-training-situation","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-world-champ","tag-world-title","tag-world-title-pitch","tag-world-titles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=654379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654379\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/654380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=654379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=654379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=654379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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